Clamp



Aug. 31,192 1,598,520

J. J. HAYES CLAMP Filed April 20. 1925 Patented Aug. 31, 1926.

UNITE!) STATE JAMES JOSEPH HAYES, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

CLAMP.

Application filed April 20, 1925.

This invention relates to clamping devices for use by carpenters andothers and its object is the provision of a novel device by means ofwhich a door, window sash, or other similar building element may be heldin upright position while it fitted with looks, or otherwise treated.

An important object is the provision of a device of this character whichis fully adjustable whereby to permit of its holding sashes, doors orthe like of widely different thicknesses.

Another object is the provision of a device of this character whichembodies a spring and which is so constructed and arranged as toautomatically grip against the opposite sides of the article being heldwhereby the clamping action will be automatic.

An additional object is the provision of a device of this characterwhich will be simple and inexpensive to manufacture, easy to use andadjust, positive in action, efficient and durable in service, and ageneral improvement in the art.

lVith the above and other objects and advantages in view, the inventionconsists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fullydescribed and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich 2- Figure 1 is perspective view of the device in use,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device, the article held therebybeing shown in section,

Figure 3 is a detail section on the line 33 of Figure 2, and

Figure 1 is a plan view of one of the clamping members alone.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the spring member and theholding screw therefor.

Referring more particularly to the 'drawings, I have shown my device ascomprising a pair of members and 11 which are somewhat similar inconstruction and which may be formed as castings or possibly stampings.These members 10 and 11 are formed respectively with elongated hollowbase portions 12 and 13 and at the under sides of their outer ends theyare also provided with depending lugs 14ladapted to bear upon a floor orother surface Where the device is employed. The members 10 and 11include upstanding portions 15 between which may be engaged a doorindicated at A, or a winis being planed,

Serial No. 24,653.

doW sash or other to be worked upon.

Secured within the hollow base portion 12 of the member 10 is anelongated leaf spring 16 which projects through a' slot 17 in theupright portion 15 and which extends to a considerable distance beyondthe face and within a slot 18 in. the member 11. The means for holdingthe spring 16 within the hollow base member 12 is here represented asbeing a screw 19 which is threaded into a projection 20 which dependsfrom. the top portion of the hollow base portion 12. The opposite sidesof the hollow base portion 13 of the member 11 are formed with elongatedslots 21 along which is movable a transverse tacit 22'about which iscoiled the free end of the spring 16 as shown at 23. The bolt 22 isequipped with a suitable nut 24 whereby a clamping action may be had forholding the spring 16 in any desired adjusted position depending uponthe space needed between the upright portions of the clamping members.111 order that the device might be anchored upon the floor or othersurface, I provide one side of the clamping members 10 and 11 withbosses 25 through which are slidably engaged penetrating members 26 suchas nails or the like adapted to be driven into the floor or othersurface.

In the use of the device, it is adjusted so that the members 10 and 11are substantially the same distance apart as the thickness of the door,sash or other object to be held. The device is of course placed upon thefloor and the article to be held is inserted between the members 10 and11 so that it will rest upon the spring 16'. lVhen the weight of thearticle comes upon the spring it is quite evident that the two members10 and 11 will fulcrum upon the feet 14 and their confronting faces 15will move toward each other and exert a very firm gripping action uponthe article so that slipping thereof will be prcvented.

This clamping device is a simple and eiii' cient means by which doors orwindows can be supported upon edge so that a carpenter can easily planethe upper edge, or mortise or otherwise treat the material that he isworking upon or with. The heavier the article, the steadier the clampwill hold it in view of the peculiar action of the two end portions ofthe device. The clamp may be placed upon the floor and by one turn ofthe thumb screw is loosened so as to fit any similar building elementdoor, window, board or other similar article. Furthermore, it will bequite apparent that slipping of the article which is being worked uponwill be absolutely prevented. The device is equally well adapted tor usewhen cutting miters or jointing extra long, large boards, frieze,base-boarcs and the like, the device being capable of being placed onstaging, horses or bench, depending upon the nature of the articleworked upon. The device is easily adjustable and as it is preferablyconstructed of malleable iron or the like it will not easily break andshould consequently have a long life.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will befound that I have thus provided a simply constructed, inexpensive andeasily adjusted clamping device which will be a great saver of time andlabor especially when used by carpenters engaged in planing and fittingdoors and windows or applying looks or other accessories thereto. Owingto the simplicity of the construction it is apparent that there islittle to get out of order so that the device should have a long lifeand satisfactorily perform all its functions.

VJhile I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of theinvention, it should be understood that I reserve the right to make suchchanges in the form, construction and arrangement of parts as willnotdepart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of thesub-joined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim A device of the characterdescribed comprising a pair of substantially similar angular memberseach having a hollow base portion and an upright bearing face, a springextending across from one member to the other within the hollow baseportions thereof, a securing element within one hollow base portionanchoring one end or the spring thereto, the other end ot the springbeing formed with an eye, an adjusting: screw passing through said eyeand carryiug a nut, the opposite sides of the hollow base portion of theother member being formed with elongated slots for the accommodation ofthe screw whereby said members may be adjusted toward or from each otherto vary the space between the bearing faces thereof, both of saidmembers being formed with lateral projections and penetrating elementsextending through said projections and adapted to be driven into thefloor or other support for effecting mounting of the device in astationary manner.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature.

AMES JOSEPH HAYES.

